Publish date20 Nov 2014 - 11:50
Story Code : 174457

Rochdale Muslims Decry Islamophobia

Amid increasing anti-Muslim sentiments in Manchester’s Rochdale, Muslims have called all parts of the society to stand up against Islamophobia, which has been turning into an “accepted norm” in the English town.
Rochdale Muslims Decry Islamophobia

“It has become evident to anyone that follows events in the media that Islam is being portrayed negatively and that Muslims living in Britain are bearing the brunt of discrimination and violence,” a statement by Rochdale Muslim Community read, Manchester Evening News reported.

“There is little doubt that this has resulted in not only the community feeling vilified but could potentially breakdown social cohesion within society.”

For two years, Rochdale Muslim community has been facing discrimination following the grooming scandal in which Asian men were involved.

In 2012, nine Britons of Pakistani and Afghan descent were found guilty of exploiting girls, who were all white, in sexual activities in Rochdale and Derby in return for drugs and alcohol, reported On-Islam.

Highlighting the ethnicity of the religious and ethnical identities of the sex offenders has resulted in stigmatizing the Rochdale’s Muslim community, according to the town’s Muslims.

The group has also accused biased media coverage and some politicians of being behind the surge of Islamophobia in the town.

“Irresponsible comments from senior local and national politicians are aiding the negative portrayal of the Muslim community,” the groups said.

“Time and time again some politicians and the media have attempted to equate issues such as grooming and the Muslim community as being one and the same.

“It is only natural that this sort of misinformation will stigmatize the whole of the Muslim community.

“This has meant that casual xenophobia towards Muslims has now become an acceptable norm,” the statement added.

White Cabbie

As the anti-Muslim sentiment reached its peak, Asian taxi drivers have complained of facing racial attacks and vandalism of their own cars.

A group of Asian taxi drivers have went on strike in Heywood after they firm, car2000, decided to hire White cabbies responding to clients’ demands.

Rochdale Muslims has lamented the frequent reference to pedophile gangs as Asians, sex offenders who belong to other ethnicities are never mentioned.

“Unfortunately, we are now facing a situation where a disdain of the Muslim community is something which is deemed acceptable,” Rochdale Muslim community said.

“We do not wish to go back to a situation where discrimination against minorities becomes the norm.

“We believe that all segments of society have a duty to stand up against Islamophobia in all of its guises no matter how subtle or apparent.

“We intend to double our efforts in order to alleviate the misconceptions that have been manufactured by irresponsible speech, not only by far-right but mainstream politicians and the media.”

The town's Muslims have urged all society members to join hands in combating the soaring anti-Muslim prejudice.

“Part of our action plan will be to educate the wider society about the Islamic belief to help overcome stereotypes against Islam.”

In June 2013, hundreds of British mosques condemned sex grooming in a unified Friday sermon to highlight Islam’s emphasis on protecting children and the vulnerable.

In the effort led by Together Against Grooming (TAG), imams at about 500 mosques condemned the sexual grooming of children.

Along with TAG, a not-for-profit organization set up to tackle sexual grooming in the UK, the sermon was supported by the Muslim Council of Britain, the Mosque and Imams National Advisory Board and the Islamic Society of Britain.
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